Scott McLaughlin wins IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg
Fox News
Australian Scott McLaughlin won his first IndyCar race at the season-opening event in St. Petersburg on Sunday.
McLaughlin, the three-time Australian V8 Supercars champion, made his IndyCar debut at St. Pete in the 2020 season finale and declared the experience "far out!" and "the best day of my life apart from my wedding," even after a crash caused his early exit. In his third trip back, he made qualifying his priority and was rewarded with his first career pole.
He led 49 of the 100 laps but had to hold off reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou over the closing laps to secure the victory. McLaughlin was held up by rookie Devlin DeFrancesco, the last car on the lead lap, on the final trip around the track, which gave Palou the chance to take one look at a pass for the lead. Palou couldn't get close enough and McLaughlin followed DeFrancesco across the finish line for another win for Team Penske.